The shipwreck of the nearly 200-year-old Hamburg is visible along the Avon River in Nova Scotia. (CTV News)
On the shores of the Avon River, about 80 kilometres northwest of Halifax, a fascinating piece of 19th-century maritime history has recently resurfaced, unveiling remnants of Nova Scotia's once-thriving shipbuilding industry. The uncovering occurred near Summerville, N.S., where 88-year-old resident Wilfred Ogilvie has spent his entire life. He recalls the tales of three wooden sailing ships that were buried under sand for nearly a century.
“There are three ships buried here in the sand,” Ogilvie shared, reminiscing about the vessels that were once the pride of the local shipbuilding industry. These ships were abandoned at a long-gone wharf and left to decay about a hundred years ago. One of these vessels, the Hamburg, was particularly significant due to its impressive size and construction.
The Hamburg, a three-mast ship built in the nearby town of Hantsport, N.S., had a towering hull that was a familiar sight on the beach. "She was 200 feet long, 40 feet wide, and had a depth of about 25 feet," Ogilvie described, emphasizing how massive the ship was for its time. The Hamburg was a symbol of the shipbuilding prowess that once defined the region, making it a key player in Nova Scotia’s maritime history.
In 1936, tragedy struck when all three ships, including the Hamburg, caught fire. What remained of them was buried beneath layers of sand and silt, carried by the ebb and flow of the tides over the decades. The ships seemed lost forever, their stories buried along with them. However, recent flash flooding in the area washed away much of the sand, revealing the hull of the Hamburg once more. Her remains, now exposed on the beach, have captured the attention of locals and historians alike.
Photo of the Hamburg. CTV News
The re-appearance of the Hamburg is more than just a discovery of an old ship; it’s a portal to a time when towns along the Avon River thrived on the booming shipbuilding industry of the 19th century. This region was at the forefront of global shipping, with Nova Scotians renowned for their shipbuilding skills and their ability to trade goods across the world. “This province was a leader in shipping in the 1800s,” explained historian Blair Beed. “People were known for building the boats, loading them with merchandise, and sailing cargo all over the world.”
Ogilvie further elaborated on the trade practices of the time, recalling how these ships would leave Nova Scotia laden with wood and other goods, only to return with a fresh load of merchandise from their voyages. The reappearance of the Hamburg is akin to a time machine, bringing the past back to life. Beed expressed this sentiment beautifully, stating, "History reveals itself when it wants to."
The story of Hamburg’s re-emergence from the sands of time is a poignant reminder of the rich maritime heritage of Nova Scotia. It connects the present with the past, offering a tangible link to the region's shipbuilding heyday. As pieces of the other two ships also begin to surface along the beach, it’s clear that these old vessels, now nearly 200 years old, still have stories to tell.
